Title: In the Shades of Gray

Pairing: Nuada/Harry (eventually)

Words without header: 2048

Authors Notes: I don't usually do these until the end, however, I know some people don't actually read them. Nuada and Nuala didn't die, I've screwed with timelines and such. Most of which will be explained later on. Takes place the summer after Order of the Phoenix.

Enjoy? Even if it is a bit clichéd. This first chapter may seem rushed, a lot of it is because I'm just trying to lay down back story before we get into the real story itself.

Unbeta'd. If anyone would like to beta future chapters let me know?

Harry sneaked down Diagon Alley with his hood pulled low across his face. He wanted to keep the anonymity he currently had. Since his birthday three weeks prior he'd been staying at a muggle hotel in London and coming into the Alley daily trying to find information.

Unfortunately he'd been unable to find what he needed to know so here he was, venturing into Knockturn Alley. The teen had never thought he'd be trying to get into the alley but then again his life had changed a lot in the past weeks.

He wasn't sure how he did it but he somehow cloaked himself in the shadows, nothing purposely but when he stepped back into the shaded spaces people seemed to lose him and he felt different. It was hard to explain but it seemed like the outside world was separated from him by a thin film of gray. Strange, but a very useful thing to discover.

Harry stepped into the shadows of Knockturn Alley and looked around, feeling safe which was preposterous as he remembered his first venture into this place as a naïve boy. He supposed that he had changed now though, he just hadn't realize so much. Then again, seeing your Godfather die before your very eyes is bound to make you different and make you look at the big picture.

Quickly he hurried along in his shadows to the book store he'd spied. He'd seen vague mentions of a heritage that might apply to him, he'd been frustrated when visiting his vault in Gringotts had revealed nothing. Thus, he assumed his current features were thanks to his mother? Maybe a recessive gene?

Ducking into the shop he pulled his hood down and his midnight hair fell across his cheek. It had begun growing at an alarming rate after his birthday and just brushed his shoulders. That coupled with the other very slight changes to his person is what lead him here. Sidling up to the shelves he began scanning titles, aware that the shop owner was watching him closely.

The teen was gently running a hand along the spines of the books, hoping one would jump out at him. A lot of the titles were worn and hard to read and others were new and crisp. He almost jumped when his hand fell on the dark brown binding that was worn and frayed. With trembling hands he pulled it out and stared at the cover, it only held one word, Dökkálfar.

He flipped through the pages, he wasn't sure what language it was but his eyes fell on a drawing and he knew the book had to be his. He tucked it under his arm and continued browsing as he thought back to the events that had led him to where he was now.

*Flashback*

He lay on his bed in his room at the Dursley's tears in his eyes. There was a hallow place in his heart that Sirius used to fill. When the veil had taken his Godfather he'd felt something, a something he hadn't even known existed, snap inside of him. Since then things had felt off kilter and strange.

The Dursley's had been ignoring him so far and he'd had a lot of time to think and think he had. As he thought back to how things had gone since he'd entered the Wizarding world he'd become aware of something he'd never seen before.

Hermione had sent him one letter berating him on being so gullible and endangering them all at the Department of Mysteries. She'd closed the letter telling him Dumbledore forbid them from writing him that summer.

Ron had been his saving grace, he'd been shocked but so grateful when his friend had continued to send him letters. Ron had been telling him any and everything he'd been hearing about the war about everything. He'd even gone as far as to tell Harry a few things he hadn't known.

The Weasley's had been urged to wait at Kings Crossing before his first year to try and get Harry to fall into friendship with them. Between himself and Ron and their many letters they'd begun seeing a pattern. Although, Harry admitted silently, Ron had been the one to point it out.

It was a very elaborate game of chess. The entire war was a huge game between Voldemort and Dumbledore. Dumbledore being the white chess master and Voldemort being the black one. More than that, for all Dumbledore's hopes of equal rights for creatures, he'd done nothing. Sure he'd hired a werewolf teacher and employed Hagrid, but beyond that he didn't seem to be trying to help especially the so called 'dark' creatures. Unless they could play a part in his war.

Then there was Harry, the ultimate pawn, being groomed to be a murderer and likely walk to his own death. A hoot startled him out of his thoughts and he glanced at the window, two owns with packages were impatiently waiting to be let in.

With a grin he glanced at the clock, he was 16 now. Opening the window he relieved the owls of their burdens and quickly gave them each a treat. He recognized Pig but he wasn't sure who the other owl belonged to.

Glancing at the package he laughed, Fred and George had mailed him something. Quickly tearing into his gifts he was shocked at what Ron had sent him, tucked in among the regular items from his mother were books on Wizarding traditions, a book on family heirs, and a book on wizarding laws and bylaws pertaining to magical creatures. Also a book on coming of age in the Wizarding world. Harry knew that 17 was a legal adult in the Wizarding world so he wasn't sure why he was getting this now. He grabbed the letter from Ron that had been included.

Harry,

Hope you can use the books. It wasn't hard to talk mum into sending you her normal treats and snacks. She told me she knows that Dumbledore wants what is best for you but being alone on your birthday is never what's best when you are a kid.

Sixteen is a big deal in the wizarding world and I got to thinking that you probably had no idea what with the nasty muggles you live with. Seventeen is when you become an adult for a Wizard or Witch but at 16 you reach magical maturity. It's different for everyone who goes through it.

For most people it's not a huge change but for those who've got creature blood in them 16 is a big deal. The Potters are an old family Harry and I just wanted you to be aware in case your magical maturity frightened you. At the very least you'll get a power boost and that never hurts nobody.

Things have been quiet here, I'm not sure what's up with Hermione. She doesn't seem to have caught onto the same things about the war that we have. I think it's probably best to not mention things to her for a while.

Hope you have the best Birthday mate.

R.W.

Harry frowned thoughtfully, he'd never heard of Magical Maturity but then again the way his life went he never heard of anything until it had happened to him. The way he hadn't known what Voldemort's followers were called or what the dark mark was until the World Cup was one that immediately came to mind. Also how he wasn't permitted to have the key to his own vault at Gringotts by Dumbledore.

He quickly started munching on a treacle tart as he opened Fred and George's gift to him. Inside he found many WWW products as well as a…. well he wasn't sure exactly what it was. It was a pendant on a chain. The pendant was tear drop shaped with a swirling design inside that reminded him of a Celtic knot.

He searched the box and gave a small triumphant shout when he found the letter.

To our Illustrious Secret Third Party,

Hope you enjoy some of our newest products! We thought you could use them on the muggles! The necklace you found is our personal way of keeping you safe. It's a portkey! You wear it at all times, you hear us Harry?

If you ever find yourself in a jam, just grab it with your hand and say "Portus" and you'll be ever so gently dumped into the store where we will rush you to safety.

Gred and Forge

P.S. Harry safety will be granted to you no matter who you are running from. Just a little something to remember ;-)

Harry smiled and put it on and laid down with the book on wizarding laws. He'd fallen asleep quickly, not realizing that Fred and George's gift would come in very handy early the next day.

*End of FB*

Harry grinned and made his way to the shop owner with an armful of books. He'd woken the next day and had felt stronger than usual and not to mention his looks had changed.

His hair had seemed longer and darker. His skin seemed to sport a nice dark brown tan, like he'd been hanging out on the beach for too long. The most startling had been his ears and his eyes. His eyes which had been his connection to his mother had darkened considerably into a dark forest green with black rings around his iris. His ears were still their same size but had gained a very dainty appearance and were pointed on the tips.

He'd panicked. Wondering what the Dursley's, hell what Dumbledore would say about this. He'd carefully headed down to his cupboard, picked the lock and used the portkey.

The twins had been shocked to see him but had quickly sat him down and tried to calm him. Then they'd hooked him up with a place to stay in muggle London, a notice me not charm and friendly ears to listen to everything that had been going on.

Shoving his books into his bottomless satchel he pulled his hood up and stepped into the alley again. Although he was almost sure no one would recognize him he wasn't taking any chances. He let himself wander the alley for a few moments before something caught his eye, a sign that read 'Puck's Alley' and pointed down a darkened alley. He arched an eyebrow, another alley? He'd never heard of any alley's besides Diagon and Knockturn. Without another thought he faded into the shadows and made his way down the darkened path. Harry was shocked when the dimly lit shadowed path opened up into a still dark but very cheerful looking alley.

He stayed in his shadows and watched as Goblins and other creatures went about their daily business. Some of the creatures he'd never seen before and some of them looked kind of familiar too. Vaguely he was aware he was gaping but this was, fantastical. Before his eyes were things he'd read about in his fairy books and yet never seen or heard of so far. Dwarves and Banshee's were shopping alongside each other as if this were a common occurrence. There was a hag and he wasn't sure but he thought he viewed a Veela also.

This was a place Luna would love he thought as he made his way deeper into the alley and watched as small pixies flitted to and fro. He stopped in front of a window display that was filled with plants and flowers of sorts he'd never seen. Smiling he was about to continue past when he saw it, sitting off to the side of the display was a single perfect red calla lily.

He went into the shop and didn't even glance at the person working, although he was aware of eyes on him. Making his way to the display he squatted down and let his hood fall off his head. He reached out and gently touched the flower and smiled, it was alone in a pot but he decided he would definitely be buying this one.

"Mum," He whispered softly. Standing Harry cradled the flower and went to turn and gently collided with another body.

Amber eyes met verdant and the world fell away.